MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Anxiety expected to be high as Washington students prepare to return to school

Aug 20, 2021, 9:53 AM | Updated: 11:07 am

kids, school...

First graders talk during recess at the Green Mountain School in Woodland, Washington. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

(Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

With kids going back to school in less than two weeks, anxiety is expected to be high among parents and students.

Rekydal: Protocols make state’s classrooms among ‘safest in the country’

“This school year is not going to be like anything they’ve been through. There’s going to be a lot of new things in place. There’s going to be new expectations even in familiar surroundings,” said Kaiser Permanente’s Dr. John Dunn.

A panel of doctors, psychologists, and the state superintendent of public instruction came together Thursday to tell families about the harsh realities and possibilities for the upcoming school year.

“Be prepared for some infections. That’s really tough, and we don’t want to overstate that, but people are going to get sick,” said Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

The overarching message is that educators must be ready for anything. For example, if there’s an outbreak, there’s a plan to limit infections, but even those plans are subject to change.

“I think the more we learn, we may make some changes in some of those protocols as we see and watch things over the next couple of months,” said Dr. Bob Lutz with the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Response Team.

A child psychologist who was on the panel said this year, she anticipates an intensified sense of anxiety before the start of the school year.

Doctors say the anxieties and stresses in students may not be obvious at first. Some signs to look out for are changes in eating, studying, or sleeping habits, changes in health such as frequent headaches or stomachaches, or changes in behavior or personality.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

9 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

11 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

12 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

12 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

13 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

16 hours ago

Anxiety expected to be high as Washington students prepare to return to school